SPORTS BRIEFS

Agencies

Tue, Jan 29, 2013 - Page 18

CYCLING

Diaz wins Tour of San Luis

Home racer Ricardo Diaz won the Tour of San Luis crown on Sunday after Italy’s Mattia Gavazzi of the Androni team won the final stage. Gavazzi won the 154.7km ride from San Luis to Juana Koslay in 3 hours, 25 minutes and 48 seconds, edging out Slovakia’s Peter Sagan (Cannondale) and Spaniard Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) in a sprint finish. The 23-year-old Diaz, racing for San Luis Somos Todos, landed the biggest title of his career to date, having set up his success with barnstorming showings in the fifth and sixth stages. Diaz won in a total time of 24 hours, 3 minutes and 16 seconds after 1,008.8km of racing with US hope Tejay Van Garderen of BMC second, 33 seconds behind, and Brazilian Alex Diniz of Funvic third at 39 seconds, forcing two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff) to settle for fourth, 62 seconds off the pace.

HANDBALL

Spain wins championship

Spain thrashed Denmark 35-19 on Sunday to claim its second world handball championship. Spain dominated the match before its home fans, with its defense triggering a counterattack that overran Denmark. Joan Canellas led Spain with seven goals. Valero Rivera added six more, and Julen Aguinagalde and Jorge Maqueda each got five. Goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik made 14 saves. Spain never trailed and was ahead 18-10 by halftime. Its 8-0 run near the start of the second half put the result beyond doubt.

SAILING

Gabart wins Vendee Globe

French sailor Francois Gabart won the Vendee Globe around-the-world race in a record time on Sunday, shaving six days off the previous record held by countryman Michel Desjoyeaux. The 29-year-old Gabart is the youngest skipper competing in the seventh edition of the race, and crossed the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, at lunchtime on Sunday in his yacht MACIF. Gabart sailed for a total of 78 days, 2 hours, 16 minutes and 40 seconds, smashing two-time winner Desjoyeaux’s course record of 84 days, 3:09:08 set in 2009. Desjoyeaux did not compete this year. Frenchman Armel Le Cleac’h finished second, just over three hours behind Gabart — the smallest margin in the race’s history. Briton Alex Thomson was in third place when Le Cleac’h crossed the line.

SOCCER

Galatsary sign Drogba

Turkish top flight club Galatasaray have reached agreement on an 18-month contract for Ivory Coast veteran striker Didier Drogba, TRT television reported Sunday, quoting a source close to the club. Drogba left Chelsea last summer after helping them to their first Champions League title, joining Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua. Recently, the 34-year-old was linked with a move to Juventus, who denied the story. TRT did not give any details of a fee.

SOCCER

Referee breaks player’s nose

Germany midfielder Daniel Bierofka had his nose broken by the referee after being hit in the face in a freak accident during a friendly match for his second-division club, 1860 Munich. The 33-year-old was playing for 1860 Munich against VfR Aalen when the referee spread out his arms to stop play early in the second half, hitting Bierofka in the face. The midfielder was forced to come off moments later, as his team went on to win 3-0 on Saturday, and was taken to hospital for an X-ray. “I never thought the referee can injure a player,” 1860 coach Alexander Schmidt said.